More UK employers checking credit reports

By UK CreditCards.com

Finding work in today's UK job market is a challenge. Before you
are offered employment, your employer may make several checks about you,
including checking identification documents, contacting references, and in some
cases, performing criminal background checks. They may also check your
credit report, particularly if you are seeking a job in the financial
sector or certain government jobs. It is extremely important that you ensure
that the information contained on your credit report is accurate when you are
job hunting. You wouldn't want a mistaken entry to stand between you and a
great job offer.

More employers checking credit report
Though it is a legal requirement that employers in the financial
services sector check your credit score, the practice is also quietly being
adopted by many other work sectors and professions. Employers checking your
credit record are only allowed to look at your public credit report. This
document will contain more "big picture" information, including your Election
Roll status, and any judgments against you or cases of insolvency.

Employers checking your credit before extending a job offer are
not allowed to look at your payment history, because credit applications that
you have taken out do not give your consent for the data to be used in this
manner. Those who are allowed to see the "small print" history in your credit
record are the largest lenders, and this would be in cases where you want to
borrow money.

Employers are generally uninterested in your credit score. What
they are interested in are the big hits on your record, such as judgments or
decrees that are recorded against you, sequestrations, trust deeds,
bankruptcies and individual voluntary arrangements (IVAs), which are
alternative debt solutions done in place of bankruptcies. The employer will
also check that you live in the same place you claim to.

Check and clear your credit report of errors
Like it or not, your credit report is used far more often than it
used to be in situations that are not directly related to borrowing money, and an
employment background check is one of those uses. If you want to see your
public credit report, you can get it from Experian or Equifax, and you are
strongly advised to do so. A surprising number of credit reports have mistakes
on them, and the sooner you clear them up, the better. Contrary to what some
believe, checking your credit report will not lower your credit score.

Potential employers in the UK are increasingly using credit checks
in their background screening of candidates. Though they cannot dig into the
details of your payment history, it is in your interest to check your credit
reports and ensure that they are correct before commencing your job search.